EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Dutch cities and government departments join forces for urban research

Dutch cities and government departments join forces for urban research

15-12-2005

The Netherlands Institute for City Innovation Studies (NICIS) was set up in The Hague on 7 December 2005. The NICIS has received the status of urban studies Centre of Excellence. Together with other centres of excellence, it will play an important role in strengthening the Dutch knowledge infrastructure. It aims to achieve this by bringing about better-coordinated urban research, carrying out research based on social problems and generating practical knowledge. The substantive focus will lie on strengthening the urban economy and improving the quality of life in cities.

The foundation was ratified at the signing of a declaration of intent for the NICIS. The cabinet was represented by seven government departments:

the Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment;
the Minister for Social Affairs and Employment;
the Minister for Justice;
the Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport;
a representative of the Minster for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations;
a representative of the Minister for Education, Culture and Science;
a representative of the Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

The declaration was signed for the City of The Hague by Mayor Deetman and for the City of Zwolle by Mayor Meijer. It was also signed by Mr Nijkamp from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and by Mr Franssen on behalf of the Province of South Holland. As an initiative of the Dutch Knowledge centre for larger towns and cities (KCGS), the NICIS will collaborate as an integral part of a larger organisation.

The purpose of NICIS is to strengthen the social and economic power of cities. There are, however, more reasons why it was founded, namely:

The Netherlands is urbanising at a high rate. The great majority of Dutch people already live in or near a city.
There is still too little known about solving urban problems – the causes of recent disturbances in European cities, for example.
Current scientific research in the Netherlands is fragmented and predominantly monodisciplinary in approach. This research is not very problem-oriented.
The aim of NICIS is to bring some coherence into urban research, carry out research based on social problems and generate practical knowledge.

The research programme of the NICIS will be made known in spring 2006. Its core themes are economic chances and the lived environment. This covers relevant knowledge domains such as housing and space, the urban economy, labour market, accessibility, social cohesion, health, integration and safety. Further, the Centre of Excellence offers postdoctoral master’s courses and high quality education for cities, departments and social partners.

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